Handle lock for suction cleaners



June 17, 1947.- E ,BA| UFF 2 2,422,216

HANDLE LOCKFOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Sept. 25,.1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ewa- W June 17, 1947. E. J. BALLUFF 2,422,216

HANDLE LOCK FOR SUGT ION CLEANERS Filed Sept. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 17, 1947 STATE-S PATENT 2;4 22,21e HANDLELQGKgFOR sUommmoLEANERs;

Edwin J, Ballufi Detroit, assignog tq Eureka Williams Corporationga conpogation oi Michigan Applicationfieptemben-ZS, 1944,; Se ial.No.,555;606

11 ';Claims. (Cl. 39,6 13),

isinven i n, let stol et o c eaner fi nah iq i. haws. 9;? eslfi e r liz d: f: v e cu ar eren e The a a le o kio ene: -ewerd wwevremvzfii swlaeel 5 fon.

In suction cleaners of the floor typewhpreh lfi v handle is pivoted adjacent the reanwheels-of e cl aner, t s. e n bl QQ e hemi t ti a qor. parked ,posit qn T i,., Y n a r. ti kzipalj bieet he ov o feq el nd e ficien -hanq m dr e s e for.

Principal ohjeetsof the inventionare to proahlysgihahthg m out vider 512121 pefi ds bev A ndn m r vei en e v q ki:

A handle jock which may be easily released by a natural movement 0? thef hand of an operator when., he hand e l an l to r ve jfrom its parked to. an operating position.

Other objects and advantages of the ;invention will beapparent from a consideration of the following specifigation tal en in co njunctionwith; the acco np anying drawings, of which there are two sheets and wherein:

1 is a si de'e1 evationa1 viev vof a cleaner embodying the invention Fig, 21s an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the handle mounting and lock; therefor with thehandle in itsvertical or-parked'= position;

Fig. 371s a view similar to Fig; 2 but-with'the handle in its lowermost or horizontal position-3 Fig. 4 is a rear elevational-view, partly in section, of, the mechanism-as illustrated in Fig. 2-; and;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism as illus- A suctioncleane in connection with which in y ih a g p my invention is particularly useful maycomprise The coiled i "3' f a i i i im av s s in front end'reartwheels VII! a d the handle} 18, The =pin- 44 coBhEiiEQ himh a nozzle l l having a mouth-16 presented-toward T W iltlief oi the surface covering upon which the; cleaner is imthe man llustga e supported,=a handlefl ancl a-bag M: I hecleaner i; 535 ff yi 55 M a in u h' n el rel-motor driven e braketfahd oooberates with another barhohth; e in nsoperatively connected! the brac ehshoh the. other side-Moi the in 1 azls" m hthe'nozzle' r creating a flow f illustrated ir Fi-gfi toiirnitlcoiinterelockwise 1'01, into the nozzle and thence-through the machine 'b i 5 56 t a zfl -w r diorventrained-inesucshe The; k h'ztjori fie, s de; is provided 'withza air'15-sepwteditherefrmi terellya' s ehdine,mh h hhhron hsallow n The Willie-1s fl i 9 membenolglatch ,forj ogera engage ent with cleaner caslng m any sul-table -fashlon rearwarolls a age j oribkmgjmehlb r of'the-noZZl While-the-rear-Wheels-- IZ mas be 1 2 'r mounted one on-each-end-of theax-le 22which--ineeper 1s m 6 arm 0 g an a turn is xnountec 1;-=ontwospringdeaves- Ox -memon the upper. end of a 1m whlch-fps berg 24; suchspring --1eaves 1 members .24. being,,- rough; lgg i kz p c ifi fii g t .b l fi constructed and arranged so; as to; position the gdi l rliz fidi' fi ifi 1 I fi lli aiz l s fix rear wheels I 2 relativeto-the casing as illustrated its;10,V.-- e:'3 61101 5 5 s pnpmdegl swliglangapegtugge in Figs.-1'and2'when the handle 184s in itsparkem thnough-whicl-lgthe axle Z xfzendsh;

9; mile 1 8' relatl,

rear wheels I2 and axle 22. lying next to the link 50 and having its lower take place.

The link 56 is free to pivot on the axle 22. With the parts arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2, the keeper ea cooperates with the pin 46 under the influence of' spring 24 to lock the handle against pivotal movement relative to the cleaner in order to permit the cleaner to be picked up by 4 means of the handle 18 with the parts arranged as illustratedin Fig. 1. I

By depressing the rear end of the cleaner, for example by pushin downwardly on the handle l8, the spring leaves or members 24 will yield sufiiciently so as to permit the pin or latch 46, to move downwardly relative to the keeper 48 sufficient to clear the end 66 thereof, whereupon the handle may be pivoted backwardly to its operating position.

A stop 58 formed on the link 56' cooperates with a stop formed by the under surface of a locking plate 66 to limit the downward movement of the rear end of the cleaner 26 relative to the Another link 62 end pivoted on the axle 22 is provided with a latch'64 which is adapted to engage a stop formed by the upper surface of the locking plate 66 when the rear end 26- of the cleaner is depressed for locking the rear 'end 26 of the cleaner against 7 vertical movement relative to the rear wheels l2 and the axle 22. r r

The link 62 is biased by a spring 66 into the position illustrated in Fi 3 so that as soon as the latch 64 clears the upper surface of the looking plate 66 the spring 66 will move the link 62 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, provided that thepin 36 moves due to the pivotal movement of the handle sufiiciently to permit this action to The upper end of the link 62 is bifurcated to form a fork '68 which is adapted to accommodate the pin 46 afterdisengagement thereof from the keeper 48 and duringthe initial pivotal movement of the handle 16 in a clockwise direction from the'position illustrated in Fig. '2. In fact, the arms of the fork 66 are so positioned relative to the pin 46 and the'keeper 48 that the handle l8 cannot be moved to its operating position without engaging the latch 64 with the locking plate 66 asillustrated in Fig; 3. As the fork 68 is open at the top, further pivotal movement of the handle is provided. for, and when the handle is restored to its parkednposition the pin 46 will enter the fork 68 and shift the same so as 'to disengage the latch 64 from the locking plate 66.

mouth l6 of the nozzle will be properly-positioned relative to the surface covering on which the cleanerissupported. r

Th subject matter disclosed and claimed herein is more broadly claimed in the prior co-pending application of George R. C'oss, Serial No. 522,182, filed February 10, 1944, for Suction cleaner? While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right. is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

vides for relative movement between said wheel and body and which is arranged to bias said body to the limit of its movement away from said Wheel when the cleaner is supported on the floor by said wheel, a locking element on said handle, a locking member connected with said mounting so as to be movable therewith relative to said gaged with said first-mentioned locking member,

said second locking member being arranged relativeto said first-mentioned locking member so as to be disengaged from said part when said firstmentioned locking member is engaged with said handle locking element.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body, a handle pivoted on said body, a wheel, means including a spring forming a movable mounting for said wheel on said body which provides for relative Which is arranged to bias said body to the limit 'of its movement away from said wheel when the cleaner is supported on the floor by said wheel, a locking element on said handle, a locking member connected with said mounting so as to be movable therewith relative to said body, said locking member being engageable with said handle locking element for locking said handle against pivoting movement on said bracket, said locking member being disengageable from' said locking element upon depressing said body against the force of said spring, said body having a stop with which said lockingmember is engageable to limit movement of said body toward said wheel, a second locking member connected with said mounting and movable therewith relative to said body, said second locking member being engageable with a part on said body for lock- I ing said body against movement away from said first-mentioned locking member, said second locking member being arranged relative to said first-mentioned locking member so as to be engaged with said part when said first-mentioned locking member is disengaged from said handle locking element.

3. In a suction cleaner, a body, a handle pivoted on said body awheel, means including a spring forming a movable mounting for said wheel on said body which provides for relative movement between said wheel and body and which is arranged to bias said body to the limit of its movement away from said wheel when the cleaner is supported on thefioor by said wheel, a locking pin on said handle, a hook-shaped locking member connected with said mounting so as to be movable therewith relative to said bracket, said locking member inone position thereof being hookedover said pin for locking said handle against pivoting movement on saidbracket, said hook-shaped locking member being disengageable from ,saidpin upon depressing said body by downward pressure on said handle sufiicientto overcome the force of said spring, said body havingastopwith which said locking member is I engageable to limit movement of said body towardsaid wheel, a. second locking memberconnecteditwith; said mounting, and. movable therewith relative to said body,- said second locking;

member being -engageable. with apart on said.

bodyrforlockingsaid, body against movement away fromrsaid mounting when said stop is engecL with said first-mentioned locking member,

said second locking member being arranged relativetosaid first-mentioned locking member was to, be, disengaged from said part when said first-.

mentioned locking member is engaged with said handle. locking; pin.,

4. In ,alsuctiony cleaner, a body,-a handle pivoted on said body, a wheel, means including, a.

spring, forming a movable mounting for said wheel on said body which provides for relative movement between'said wheeland body and which is arranged to bias said body to the limit of its movement away from said wheel when the cleaner is supported on the floor by said wheel, a locking element on said handle, a locking member connected with said mounting so as to be movable. therewith relative to said body, said locking member being engageablewith said handle locking; element for locking 7 said handle against, pivoting movement 011 said body, said body having a stop with which said locking member is engageable to limit movement of said body toward said wheel, a second locking member connected with said mounting and movable therewith relative to said body, said second locking member being engageable with a part on said body for locking said body against movement away from said mounting, when said stop is engaged with said first-mentioned locking member, said second locking member being arranged relative to said first-mentioned locking member so as to be engaged with said part when said first-mentioned locking member is disengaged from said handle locking element, and means for preventing any substantial pivotal movement of said handle until said second locking member is engaged with said part.

5. In a suction cleaner, a body, a handle pivoted on said body, a locking member comprising a laterally extending pin on said handle, a hookshaped locking member mounted for movement relative to said locking pin, said hook-shaped locking member in one position thereof relative to said pin being hooked over said pin for looking said handle against pivoting movement on said body and in another position thereof being disengaged from said pin so as to permit pivoting movement of said handle.

6. In a suction cleaner, a body having a bracket, a handle pivoted on said bracket, supporting wheels, means including a spring forming a mounting for one of said wheels on said body which provides for relative movement between said wheel and body and which is arranged to bias said body upwardly to the limit of its movement away from said wheel when the cleaner is supported on the floor by said wheels, a locking pin on said handle, a hook-shaped locking member connected with said mounting so as to be movable therewith relative to said bracket, said locking member in one position thereof being hooked over said pin for locking said handle against pivoting movement on said bracket, said hook-shaped locking member being disengageable from said pin upon depressing said body relative to said one of said wheels so as to permit pivoting movement of said handle.

7. In a suction cleaner, a body having a bracket and a guide slot, a handle pivoted on said bracket; SlippOlltlilggWhfielia means. .ino1uding a p r ing a mountingifor'i ne; of. said wh els.

on: said body which .provides .for, relative move:

mentzbetween. said wheel, and abodyand which; is arranged to. biassaidsbody upwardlyaway from;

tion-thereof being'hooked over said pin for-locket ing said handle against pivoting; moyementpn said. bracket, saidhook-shaped clocking member;v

disengageableifrom. said pin upon 'depresse, -ing said body downward. pressure. on said-handlesufrlcient toovercometheforce of said spring.

8. Ina suotion cleaner, azbody-having a bracket and a guide slot, a handle pivotedson-said, bracket, supporzting... wheels,. means-including. a

springiormlng a mounting :for icnewof said wheels "on said body, whichprovides for reIatiVemove-U ment between said wheel and body. and which: is arranged to bias .saidx-body upwardly away from said swheel, ahandle. lockqcomprising alocking pin. on said :handle, and. a..hook-shaped, locking.

member connected with said mounting and 'so as to be movable therewith relative to said pin, said locking member extending upwardly from said mounting through said slot and in one position thereof being hooked over said pin for locking said handle against pivoting movement onsaid bracket, said hook-shaped locking member being disengageable from said pin upon depressing said body by downward pressure on said handle sufficient to overcome the force of said spring, a second locking member connected with said mounting so as to be movable therewith relative to said pin and engageable with a part of said body upon disengagement of said hook-shaped locking member from said pin for locking said handle lock in its disengaged condition.

9. In a suction cleaner having a Wheeled body arranged for movement on a floor, an upstanding handle pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a substantially vertical position downwardly and rearwardly through an arc to an operating position and back to said vertical position, releasable locking mechanism associated with the mounting of said handle on said body and automatically operable for positively locking said handle in its vertical position relative to said body upon swinging movement of said handle into said vertical position While said body is supported on said floor so as to permit said cleaner to be picked up by means of said handle while maintaining the relative positions of said body and handle, said locking mechanism comprising a laterally extending pin on said handle and a hook-shaped locking member mounted for movement relative to said locking pin, said hook-shaped locking member in one position thereof relative to said pin being hooked over said pin for locking said handle against pivoting movement on said body and in another position thereof being disengaged from said pin so as to permit pivoting movement of said handle, said locking mechanism being constructed and arranged to be released by bodily depressing said handle from its normal vertical position while said body is so supported on said floor, so as to permit swinging movement of said handle to an operating position for propelling said cleaner.

10. In a suction cleaner arranged for movement on a floor, a spring mounted body having an upstanding handle pivoted thereto for propelling the cleaner, releasable locking mechanism associated with said handle and body and operable for automatically positively locking said handle in a vertical position relative to said body upon movement of said handle to such position While said handle while maintaining the relative positions of said body and handle, said locking mechanism including a releasable connection constructed and arranged to be released by depressing the rear end of said body while said body is supported on said floor, so as to permit pivotal movement of said handle to aposition for propelling said cleaner, said locking mechanism comprising a pin on said handle and a hook-shaped locking member mounted for movement relative to said pin.

11. In a suction cleaner having wheels yieldably supporting said cleaner on a floor, an upstanding handle pivoted on said cleaner for propelling the same, locking mechanism associated with said cleaner and handle and operable for automatically positively locking said handle in a vertical position relative to said cleaner upon movement of said handle to such position While said cleaner is so arranged on a floorso as to permitsaid cleaner to'be picked up by means of said handle While maintaining the relative positions of said cleaner and handle, said locking mechanism including a releasable connection constructed and arranged to be released by depressing one end of said cleaner while said clean er is supported on said Wheels, so as to permit pivotal movement of said handle to a position for propelling said cleaner, said locking mechanism comprising a pin on said handle and a hookshaped locking member connected with one of said wheels for movement therewith'relative to said cleaner.

EDWIN J. BALLUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record in the 

